Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is an NMDA antagonist, neuroprotectant and neurotoxin

The Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels

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Descending control of pain

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Blockade of NMDA Receptors and Apoptotic Neurodegeneration in the Developing Brain

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Early Exposure to Common Anesthetic Agents Causes Widespread Neurodegeneration in the Developing Rat Brain and Persistent Learning Deficits

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General anaesthesia: from molecular targets to neuronal pathways of sleep and arousal

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The sedative component of anesthesia is mediated by GABAA receptors in an endogenous sleep pathway

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Anesthesia induces neuronal cell death in the developing rat brain via the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways

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Disruption of frontal-parietal communication by ketamine, propofol, and sevoflurane

Lee, U., Ku, S., Noh, G., Baek, S., Choi, B., & Mashour, G. A. (2013) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/aln.0b013e31829103f5 · Cited by 426

Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders: Current and Emerging Treatment Options

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General anaesthetic actions on ligand-gated ion channels

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Neurologic, psychiatric, and other medical manifestations of nitrous oxide abuse: A systematic review of the case literature: Toxic Effects of Nitrous Oxide Abuse

Garakani, A., Jaffe, R. J., Savla, D., Welch, A. K., Protin, C. A., Bryson, E. O., & McDowell, D. M. (2016) · The American Journal on Addictions · doi:10.1111/ajad.12372 · Cited by 279

Nitrous Oxide for Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Proof-of-Concept Trial

Nagele, P., Duma, A., Kopec, M., Gebara, M. A., Parsoei, A., Walker, M., Janski, A., Panagopoulos, V. N., Cristancho, P., Miller, J. P., et al. (2015) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.11.016 · Cited by 230

Impaired thalamocortical connectivity in humans during general-anesthetic-induced unconsciousness

White, N. S., & Alkire, M. T. (2003) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(03)00103-4 · Cited by 223

The TREK K2P channels and their role in general anaesthesia and neuroprotection

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A phase 2 trial of inhaled nitrous oxide for treatment-resistant major depression

Nagele, P., Palanca, B. J., Gott, B., Brown, F., Barnes, L., Nguyen, T., Xiong, W., Salloum, N. C., Espejo, G. D., Lessov-Schlaggar, C. N., et al. (2021) · Science Translational Medicine · doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.abe1376 · Cited by 133

Cognitive unbinding: a neuroscientific paradigm of general anesthesia and related states of unconsciousness

Mashour, G. A. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.09.009 · Cited by 92

Using anesthetics and analgesics in experimental traumatic brain injury

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Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: Rationale for NMDA Receptors as Targets and Nitrous Oxide as Therapy

Zorumski, C. F., Nagele, P., Mennerick, S., & Conway, C. R. (2015) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00172 · Cited by 57

Nitrous oxide: are we still in equipoise? A qualitative review of current controversies

de Vasconcellos, K., & Sneyd, J. R. (2013) · British Journal of Anaesthesia · doi:10.1093/bja/aet215 · Cited by 52

Nitrous oxide speeds the reduction of distressing intrusive memories in an experimental model of psychological trauma

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Exploring Nitrous Oxide as Treatment of Mood Disorders: Basic Concepts

Nagele, P., Zorumski, C. F., & Conway, C. (2018) · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1097/jcp.0000000000000837 · Cited by 43

Enhancement of suggestibility and imaginative ability with nitrous oxide

Whalley, M. G., & Brooks, G. B. (2009) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1424-0 · Cited by 42

Demystifying the Antidepressant Mechanism of Action of Stinels, a Novel Class of Neuroplastogens: Positive Allosteric Modulators of the NMDA Receptor

Donello, J. E., McIntyre, R. S., Pickel, D. B., & Stahl, S. M. (2025) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph18020157 · Cited by 15

Sedation in the emergency department: A complex and multifactorial challenge

Kennedy, R. M. (2015) · Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1390-9_19 · Cited by 4

Sedation in the Emergency Department: A Complex and Multifactorial Challenge

Kennedy, R. M. (2021) · Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-58406-1_22 · Cited by 1